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Algeria's Cereal Production Hits Record High

Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fishing Abdelkader Bouazghi said Saturday (1 September) in Algiers that the national cereal production during the campaign 2017-2018 has reached a record level of more than 60 million quintals.

"The cereal production actually obtained during the 2017-2018 campaign hit 60.5 million quintals, against 34.7 million quintals during the previous season, up 74.4%," Bouazghi said during an evaluation meeting of the 2017-2018 harvest season, organized at the Ministry's headquarters.

According to Bouazghi, this is a "record" production that has never been achieved. This increase in production is mainly due to the material and human resources mobilized.

In addition, the Agriculture Minister announced that Algeria will stop importing chickpeas and lentils in the coming years, given the State’s efforts to increase the production of vegetables, especially lentils and chickpeas.

The area used for the cultivation of chickpeas is of 32,000 hectares in 2018 against 19,000 in 2001, added Bouazghi, adding that subsequently the production of this vegetable rose to 340,000 quintals in 2018, against 123,000 quintals in 2001.

Concerning lentils, this vegetable was cultivated on a surface of 27,000 hectares in 2018 (920 hectares in 2001). Its production hit 300,000 quintals in 2018 against 4,580 quintals in 2001.